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Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa is standing firm in his decision to remain in the New York City mayoral race, despite calls from prominent figures urging him to step aside. On Monday, John Catsimatidis, the owner of WABC Radio and a well-known New York conservative, publicly appealed for Sliwa to withdraw. Catsimatidis believes that Sliwa's exit could bolster former Governor Andrew Cuomo's chances against Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.
Sliwa, who has been on leave from his radio show since launching his campaign, dismissed the calls to drop out. He emphasized his commitment to the voters, stating, "The billionaires can conspire to pick their candidate, but I trust the people. They will make the decision. I will not drop out," he told Fox News. Sliwa is currently polling third behind Mamdani and Cuomo, who is running as an independent.
Cuomo has been appealing to Republicans, positioning himself as a moderate alternative to Mamdani, a democratic socialist. He argues that Sliwa's continued presence in the race could inadvertently aid Mamdani. "Curtis Sliwa is not an alternative, he's not a viable candidate," Cuomo said, according to CNN.
Mamdani, meanwhile, finds himself in an unusual alliance with Sliwa in opposing the influence of billionaire donors. "It's time for New Yorkers to make this decision, not for billionaire donors to determine who gets to run this city," Mamdani said during a press conference, as reported by FOX 5 NY.
With Election Day just two weeks away, the pressure is mounting. A recent poll suggests a tighter race if Sliwa were to exit, but he remains resolute in his campaign efforts.
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